Outboard motor protecting rim



April 17, 1951 E. c. KIEKHAEFER OUTBOARD MOTOR PROTECTING RIM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1950 INVEN TOR. flex" j/larneyy April 1951 E. c. KIEKI-IAEFER 2,549,485

OUTBOARD MOTOR PROTECTING RIM Filed Jan. 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M r fizz??? 5 a W Z Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE Elmer (J; Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis.

Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,235

. 1 This invention relates to outboard motors and more particularly to the motor protecting rim,

and is a continuation in part of the copending 1 Claim. (01. 123 195 the motor which affords a number of conveniently disposed handles by which the motor may be manipulated in mounting the same on a boat or removing the motor therefrom, or in operating the motor as in a full reverse position.

A principal object of the invention is to carry more easily the motor particularly as in placing the motor on a boat.

Another object is to provide more convenient handle means for manipulating the motor.

Another object is to provide more convenient handle means for lifting the motor.

Another object is to provide handle means which will conveniently support the motor lengthwise as when placed on a platform.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully set forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the. invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an outboard motor as suspended and lowered manually over the transom of a boat shown in part for mounting on and securing to the boat;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the motor as disposed lengthwise on a platform showing the supporting handles as supporting the upper end of the motor;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the motor showing.

the handles disposed for use in maneuvering the motor in reverse;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper end of the motor with parts thereof 'removed or broken away and sectioned;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section by bracket 3 on a vertical axis for turning of the unit and steering of the boat as propelled by the motor. V

Bracket 2 includes the screw clamps 4 by which the outboard motor is removably secured to the transom 8of the boat 9 shown in the drawings and pivotally carries bracket 2 to permit tilting of the motor as when the lower housing 5 strikes an underwater object.

Power head 4 includes the engine In which is supported directly on housing 5 and the flywheel II.

The protecting rim I2 to which the present invention is directed comprises a cast, integrally formed ring or hoop which is supported by the forward and rear cross-bars I3 and I4, respectively, and extends around engine II] at its girth. Bars I3 and I4 are bolted directly to en gine ID, as shown, to support rim I2. The inwardly extending flange I5 of rim I2 includes the spaced enlarged bosses It provided to receive the bolts H which secure rim I2 to the opposite ends of bars I3 and I4. The fuel tank I8 connected by means, not shown, to engine I0 to supply fuel thereto is preferably disposed and secured directly within rim I2. Tank I8 extends around and over engine I0 to enclose the latter and supports the starter mechanism I9 immediately above flywheel II.

The cowl 20 below rim I2 encloses the lower portion of engine I0 and is secured by screws or other suitable means to the spaced brackets 2| extending downwardly from rim I2 and on the inside of cowl 2U.

Rim I2, tank I8 and cowl 2B are preferably of streamlined or of well appearing proportions and substantially completely enclose engine I.

To protect tank I8 and cowl 20 particularly as when the motor is placed lengthwise on a dock or platform, rim I2 projects outwardly of 'both the tank and cowl at all points so that rim I2 supports the upper end of the motor on whatever side the motor is disposed.

According to the invention, rim I2 is provided with a number of handle means by which the motor may be conveniently lifted and carried and serve to support the motor as on a platform with the front of the motor facing upwardly.

The handles 22 are formed integrally with rim I2 and extend rearwardly of the motor. Handles 22 are located with respect to the center of gravity of the motor so that in suspending the motor by either or both handles the motor is disposed in a tilted position, as shown in Figure l, and may be conveniently lowered as from a dock to the boat with bracket 2 arranged to move directly down and over transom 8 of the boat and withthe lower end 5 and propeller 6 well disposed to clear the boat and to be submerged only partially thus avoiding striking bottom when the boat is in extremely shallow water.

Handles 22 are formed to provide a base to support the upper end of the motor, as shown in Figure 2, particularly where the streamlined dimensions of the upper end ordinarily provide no base upon which the motor may be disposed with any degree of stability.

' Outboard motors, such as motor I, which are arranged to be turned 180 in steering providing for operation in a reverse position, as shown in Figure 3, are ordinarily provided with a steering handle 23 secured to the motor which projects rearwardly of the boat in such instances. Handles 22 are conveniently disposed for steering such motors and maneuvering the boat in reverse.

Furthermore, handle 23 projecting forwardly of the motor affords relatively inconvenient grasp of the motor for lifting and by which the motor is suspended awkwardly for handling.

According further to the invention rim I2 is disposed to provide additional handling ledges as at 24 on opposite sides of the motor. In motor. I, cowl 29 is preferably indented as at 25 to expose a substantial portion of the lower side of rim I2 on each side of the motor affording a convenient additional location for grasping the motor and lifting in an upright position.

Rim I2 is particularly adapted to prevent damage to the various parts of engine l0 by reason of its rigid connection to engine to and substantial construction. The additional handle. means formed by or secured directly to rim I2 is provided with the same rigidity and strength and provides grasping means on each side of the motor and at the rear thereof affording the greatest convenience.

The handles additionally serve as a trussed framework reinforcing rim l2 against collapse, allowing the rim to be constructed correspondingly lighter than would ordinarily be required for the adequate protection of the fuel tank, and the combined structure has suflicient strength to provide for lifting of the motor by either of the handles.

If desired, rim [2 may be dimensioned or disposed to provide handle means entirely about the motor.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In an outboard motor having an engine at its upper end and a drive shaft and gear housing extending downwardly from the engine and carrying a propeller normally positioned under water, said outboard motor being manually portable and adapted to be lifted out of the water and laid upon a dock or the like, a sheet metal cowl covering and encircling the engine to provide a streamlined appearance therefor and enclose the mechanism thereof, a hoop encircling said cowl and engine at the girth, bracket means on said engine disposed to rigidly support said hoop in respect to said engine whereby the engine is supported by the hoop when the outboard motor is laid upon either side or upon its stern, said bracket means constituting at least in part a rigid rear cross member to the outer ends of which said hoop is secured, and a pair of rearward extensions integral with said hoop on opposite sides thereof adjacent the points of securement of said hoop to the ends of said rear cross member, said rearward extensions being joined across the rear of said hoop to provide with said hoop and cross membera truss reinforcement strengthening the rear part of the hoop, and said joined rearward extensions additionally providing at least one closed-loop handle for manual lifting and manipulation of the outboard motor with the major stress loads for the handle being transmitted urectly to said cross member and engine without distortion of said hoop, and providing a transverse seat upon which the motor rests when laid stern clown upon a dock. V I

ELMER C. KIEKHAEFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 135,329 Kiekhaefer Mar. 23, 1943 1,374,095 Owen Apr. 5, 1921 2,224,900 Conover Dec. 17,1940 2,232,160 Blu et al Feb. 18, 194]. 2,346,148 Bosma Apr. 11, 1944 2,501,470 Krueg'er et a1 Mar. 21, 1950 2,528,480 Wilson et al Oct. 31, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Catalog entitled Evinrude Outboard Motors, 1941, published by Evinrude Motors, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

